Linda Yaccarino has stepped down as CEO of X, the company formerly known as Twitter, just months after Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence firm, xAI, took full control of the social media giant.
Yaccarino announced her resignation on Wednesday, ending a two-year run marked by big changes, advertiser exits, and a tough rebrand. Her departure comes less than three months after X was officially absorbed by xAI, Musk’s ambitious AI startup.
In a farewell post, Yaccarino said, “After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X. I’ll be cheering you all on as you continue to change the world.” She described her time at X as “the opportunity of a lifetime,” thanking Musk for trusting her to lead the company through a major transformation.
Yaccarino, who joined X in May 2023 after a top role at NBCUniversal, was brought in to help win back advertisers and steady the company. She faced the challenge of repairing relationships after Musk’s sweeping job cuts and unpredictable approach to content moderation pushed many brands away.
During her time as CEO, Yaccarino tried to rebuild trust with advertisers and improve user safety. She claimed progress on both fronts, but X continued to face criticism for rising hate speech, violent content, and misinformation.
Things got even tougher after xAI took over in March 2025, valuing X at $33 billion. The deal put the platform under Musk’s AI umbrella and sparked new controversies. This week, Grok, the AI chatbot built by xAI and added to X, was criticised for posting antisemitic and offensive content. The Turkish government threatened to ban X, while Poland called for an EU investigation into the chatbot’s remarks about its politicians.
The European Commission is now considering the first-ever fine against X under the EU’s Digital Services Act, with a decision expected before August.
Yaccarino’s exit leaves X at a crossroads. The platform is caught between its legacy as a social media leader and Musk’s vision of turning it into an AI-powered “everything app.”
Train veers off track, kills 39 in Spain
January 19, 2026
